A forum focusing on the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt and Christian minorities in other areas of the world will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, 2930 County Road 193. The forum, entitled "Christians Under Siege," is organized by Coptic Christians Against Persecution and hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor. Forum speakers, in addition to Bilirakis, will include former U.S. Rep. Fred Grandy, now executive vice president of the Center for Security Policy, and Cynthia Farahat, a political activist and Coptic Christian who has experienced persecution in Egypt. The event will be a venue for Christian minorities such as Coptic, Armenian, Greek and local Syrian Christians to express their concerns and share them with American-born Christians. The forum also will include a celebration of the life of Pope Shenouda III, patriarch of the Church of Alexandria, who died in March. The event is free and open to the public.

Iron Girl event may affect traffic

City officials are warning citizens about possible traffic delays and temporary road closures in downtown Clearwater and the beach on Sunday. The annual Iron Girl event will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. and there may be delays in downtown, the southern portion of the beach and near Pier 60. Court and Chestnut streets will likely be closed temporarily due to the run route. People participating in the event are asked to park downtown in available parking garages: Municipal Services Building Garage, Garden Avenue Garage, Atrium Parking Garage and the County Parking Garage. The Jolley Trolley will bring participants from the finish area back to the garages. More information about the event and the course map is available at www.irongirl.com/Events/Clearwater/Event.htm#axzz1rlV8Nf18

tarpon springs

Annual fundraiser tickets are on sale

Tickets are on sale for a fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit Shepherd Center's food pantry, soup kitchens, free eye clinic, thrift store and other programs. The annual dinner and dance will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the St. Nicholas Spanos Pappas Community Center, 348 N Pinellas Ave. in Tarpon Springs. Called "Passport to the World," the event will feature international cuisine, entertainment, silent auction and cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person, $400 for a table of eight, or $700 for a table and other perks. Make reservations online at tsshepherdcenter.org, by phone at (727) 939-1400 ext. 402, or by visiting the non-profit's headquarters at 780 S Pinellas Ave.

Safety equipment will be on display

The Publix Safety Day Showcase will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Publix Shopping Plaza, 40932 U.S. 19 N. The Tarpon Springs police and fire departments will bring their equipment for close inspection, and the city's new mobile command vehicle, armored personnel carrier and other police and fire rescue vehicles will be on display. Members of the SWAT team will demonstrate their equipment. Meet the Police Department's newest K-9 and see many other safety exhibits and demonstrations. Events will include face painting, games and food samples from Publix.